Case for elongated articles



March 20, 19,51

R. FLANNERY CASE FOR. ELONGATED ARTICLES 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1949 I fly MW March 20, 195-1 FLANNERY 2,545,611

CASE FOR ELONGATED ARTICLES Filed Jan. 21, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 20, 1951 R. FLANNERY 2,545,611

CASE FOR ELONGATED ARTICLES Filed Jar 1. 21, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Mar. 20, 1951 CASE FOR ELONGATED ARTICLES Roy L. Flannery, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Boye Needle Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 21, 1949, Serial No. 71,832

. 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a case for elongated articles such as crochet hooks, knitting pins, and the like.

Articles such as crochet hooks, knitting pins, yarn bobbins, stitchholders, and other elongated objects of this character are difiicult to package in kits or cases because of the tendency of the articles to become misaligned or crossed in the cases. To obtain alignment, it is now the practice to provide pockets in cases which extend across a large portion of the case and receive at least one-half of the crochet hook or pin. Even in this structure, there is a tendency for the article to extend angularly from the pocket and to cross articles from other pockets. Further, the pockets conceal a substantial portion of the article so that the user cannot see the ends thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide a casein which articles such as crochet hooksand knitting pins, yarn bobbins, stitchholders and like elongated objects will be supported in such a manner as to maintain them throughout their lengths in spaced, parallel arrangement while at the same time exposing the ends of each article to view. Yet another object is to provide a case structure in which such elongated articles will be supported about their centers and with their ends extending freely therefrom, the case being constructed so as to maintain the protruding ends in parallel, spaced arrangement. Yet another object is to provide a casein which parallel sheets are sealed together about their edges so as to trap air therein whereby in the locking of crochet hooks or knitting pins by means of loops in the center of the case, a pressure is exerted against such articles to hold them in spaced, parallel arrangement throughout their lengths, irrespective of the angle in which the case is supported. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in specific embodiments by the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of an open case embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the case in folded condition; Fig. 3, an enlarged detail sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a transverse sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a perspective view of a modified form of case embodying my invention, the case being shown in open condition; Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the case in closed condition; Fig. '7, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 1 of Fig. .6; Fig. '8, a perspective view of another modified form of case holding various elongated objects the case being shown in open condition; Fig. 9, a perspective View of the case closed; and Fig. 'l0,"a'transverse sectional View, the section being'taken, as indicated, at line l0lll of Fig. 8.

within the spacejlt, as shown best inFig. 3. The

outermost sheet I I is preferably provided at one end with a flap extension ii'provided with-a fastener button 15 adapted to engage a ball fastener securedto, the other end of the strip or sheet I I. v

To the inner'sheet I2 is secured a relatively narrow strip I! which is heat sealed to the sheet l2 not only at its ends but at spaced points indicated by the numeral l8 in Fig. 3, thus providing loops is adapted to receive the central portions of articles 'to be held within the case. In the specific illustration given in Fig. 1, crochet hooks 26 are secured'within the loops l9, both ends of the hooks being, exposed. In a similar manner, knitting pins may be secured within the loops i Q and the ends thereof exposed on both sides of the strip ll.

To protect the ends of the articles, I prefer to employ flexible side flaps 2|, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 4. The side flaps 21 are preferably formed of transparent plastic material and are heat sealed to theupper sheet I2 along the side edges thereof, as indicated at 22 in Fig. 4.

While I prefer to form the case of thermoplastic material as illustrated, and to secure the parts together by heat sealing, it will be understood that other material may be used.

In the operation of the case shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the crochet hooks or knitting pins are extended through the loops I9 so that' ture of Eigssl =to 4 inclusive.

ency for the article to occupy an angular position crossing an adjacent article at one end. Even after considerable use in which the articles are repeatedly removed and replaced within the case, the air-supported top web I 2 remains efiective in exerting pressure against the articles to maintain them in a parallel alignment. This result is accomplished even though the 'strip I9 is relativelynarrow, in order to expose fully-the end portions of the article.

In removing the crochet hook from the struc-' ture shown in Fig. 1, the flap over the hook portion of the article is turned back and a particular crochet hook selected a'ccording-tothe desired size. The selectedliook is-dr'awn' away from the loop and after being used is returned by inserting the end opposite the hook endthrough the loop. As the hook is returned into position, the upper wall [2 of the case flexes-- downwardly below the particular loop in which the: crochet -hookis':'- inserted" while forming: a slight: ridge on eithen side: of the" hook' tending tly hold it'in true': alignment -with the loop through the length of the article:

In the 'modification shown in Figs: 5;-6 and l, awc'as'e: 23=formed of: an inner sheetz land an outer sheet 25 is produced in very muclrthersame way described in'- connection with the struc- Between the sheets which are. sea1edtogether at their. edges isa space-. containing air-and indicated by" the numeral- 26.- The: case is folded along a median line:2'1 and the-outer sheet -25 is extended along Figs "to 7 inclusive, articles such as crochet hooks, knitting pins, etc. are inserted through the loops "32" and'ithe case is folded" along the median line" 21' into the" form shown ill-Fig. 6,

the end naps 28 are" then turned inwardly and other'frespects; the operation'isthe' same as'describe'dT in"c"onnection with the modification of Tlieair' cushion support- 'Fi sz 1'to 4 inclusive. irig the inner -'wall' 24 iseffective" in providing "a slight trough about each of the articles so as 'to maintain them firmly in parallel relation,

irrespective of the positionin or handling" of the c'asei the" modification shown in Figs; 8" to' 10 inclusive; thecase" structure shown is very similar tothat illustrated in Figs. 1 to 43 However,

' mete-ad of having one"central strip forming-loops extending alo'ng 'the center ofthecase; I provide 4 7 along one-half of the case 41 the spaced strips 33 and 34. The strip 33 is preferably heat sealed to provide a large loop 35 adapted to receive a pin supporting card 36. The loop 33 is also provided with loops 3'! and 38 which receive the stitchholder 39.

The strip 34 is heat sealed at intervals to the inner wallrl 2it' of the oaseto5provide1oops 4a each receiving "a "group 'of yarn bobbins 4 I:

The outside of the case shown in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive, is provided with a central strip 42 heat sealedrorotherwise secured to the inner wall [2a of the case at spaced intervals to provide the loops 431 'an'dL4'42 The loops 43 receive knitting pins 45 While-in the-foregoing specification, I have setiorth specific structures in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled:- in the are "without" departingv from the spirit of myinvention:

I claim:

1; Inacase -for enclosing elongated-articles, a pair of: thermoplastic sheets heat sealed to each other about' their edges -toprovide an'air cushion therebetween, isaid united [sheetsforming a case body-:adapted to befolded upon -itself along. a median line, a-stripextendingalong the innermost of saidsheets and lieat sea-led. thereto at spacedlintervals to formfretainingl loops for said elongated. articles, said air.- cushion forming grooves receiving said; elongatedflarticles therein and "maintaining" them insparall'ell relation, and meansd or locking. saidlcasein lfoldedlrelation.

2.--In\ a case for enclosing,"elongatediarticles, aspair. of flexibleuplastic.sheets sealedfv together about their edges to provide an air cushion there.- between, said unitedlsheets forming a case body adapted" to. be. folded upon itself along a" median line, a strip, extendihgalo'ng' the innermost of said sheets and'lsealed thereto at' spaced'intervals'to form retaining; loops adapted to receive said elongatedarticles, theai'r'pre'ssurein the space between said sheetsforming ridges: about saidelongated articles "confinedwith'in said loops to maintainsaid articlesin. parallel relation; and locking m'ean'sfor securing said case in folded relation.

ROY LFL'ANNERY'Z REFERENCES CITED The following references. are of record in the file of this. patent:

UNITED STATES. Z PATENTS Number" Name Date 129,485" Harman; Feb. 23, 1915 1;155;581 Kaiser Oct. 5, 1915 11429 608 May Sept. 19; 1922 

